Changes Tim Tebow Must Make to Be Successful Starting QB

Can Tim Tebow thrive if given another chance to start at quarterback next season?Andy Lyons/Getty Images

For Tim Tebow to ever match the hype and flourish as an NFL quarterback, a massive overhaul is necessary.

The madness ensued last season, when the former Florida Gator superstar usurped Kyle Orton as the Denver Broncos' starting quarterback.

Every following game played out like a hackneyed sports movie. Tebow struggled for about 50 or so minutes, but the game remained close due to Denver's maturing defense that is now a top-five unit this year.

Then Tebow orchestrated a game-winning drive, usually aided by Matt Prater's golden leg or a boneheaded decision by an opposing team's player.

That formula even worked in a playoff game, but the Broncos knew not to risk that luck transferring to the following season when one of the greatest players to ever take the field became available.

Now that the Tebow experiment has failed colossally with the New York Jets, who used him sparingly and ineffectively, how can Tebow capture a starting gig and hold his own as a capable signal-caller?

It's going to take more than dedication and a furious work ethic to carry Tebow to the top. Honestly, he'll probably need some magic pixie dust that bestows his arm with more throwing accuracy.

Or maybe one of those supernatural balls from Space Jam that grants him Tom Brady's skills, but that's probably unattainable.

Even while he was winning in Denver, Tebow completed 46.5 percent of his passes and averaged 6.4 passing yards per attempt. Nobody expects him to morph into a gunslinger, but an effective game-manager would represent a step forward.

There's no way Tebow will lead another team to the playoffs with those numbers. For him to replicate any of his past success, he must improve his long-winded throwing motion and hit his wideouts more accurately.

In a story from The Town Talk, quarterback mentor Terry Shea, among other position specialists, said that Tebow's throwing inconsistencies are not beyond repair.

Tim has that elongated windup and the ball drops below his waist. But I watched him warm up just briefly on TV the other night before they played Tennessee, and I didn't see that in warm-ups.

But for Tebow to stand a chance, a stout supporting cast must complement him.

If ESPN's Chris Mortensen is right about Tebow being a "virtual certainty" to land with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tebow better hope that Maurice Jones-Drew sticks around as well. Jones-Drew's return could at least establish a potent rushing attack between the two burly bruisers.

And perhaps most importantly, he must run as far away from New York as humanly possible. The media circus might never leave him alone, but it's multiplied exponentially in the Big Apple, where the media analyzed every detail of the team's training-camp practices.

Besides, the Jets are nothing more than a circus act anyway, so that's exactly what owner Woody Johnson wanted when he coerced the team to trade for Tebow. Wildcat guru Tony Sparano appeared to be the perfect offensive coordinator to highlight Tebow's assets, but he instead proved that he had no clue what to do.

At least Jacksonville would create a no-pressure opportunity for Tebow to grow as a quarterback. If he wins, he's a hero yet again for lifting his home-town team back from the brink of despair.

If he loses, well, what did you expect from the Jaguars?

When Tebow succeeds, the supporters heap insanely high praise on a subpar quarterback who etched out a victory. When he fails, his critics state that he's the worst player in the history of sports.

With the right coaching staff and player personnel in the right location, maybe Tebow can find a middle ground and evolve into an average player.